Running Reverend John Maskell will doubtless say a prayer or two before embarking on his London debut single-handed. But he would have been forgiven for pulling out - especially on a normally busy Sunday - after his race partners, son James with girlfriend Sarah Jones, were forced to abort their own missions.

Maskell, who will raise cash for The Children's Society alongside TV vet Trude Mostue, insisted: "I have spoken to people who have done it and they say the support from the crowd is phenomenal. It gives you a few extra miles which is amazing."

And he added: "As I am always working on a Sunday I have never had a chance to watch it on TV, so I'm looking forward to experiencing it." Another relishing his first taste of big race day is Guildford triathlete Paul Brown.

He answered an appeal to join the Sense team raising funds for deaf and blind people and sees the event as ideal preparation for the Lanzarote Iron Man competition next year.

Others trudging the streets for the first time include BBC Radio Five Live sports presenter Russell Fuller, building society worker Emma Zerilli and student Dave Hobden. Fuller, who was brought up in Woking, will run in aid of the Help Hammer Cancer Appeal after bravely fighting his own battle against the disease last year. Zerilli, from Bradford & Bingley's Guildford branch, will boost SHELTER while Hobden, 18, will represent The Stroke Association. Bowling along in his second marathon will be Surrey PHAB supporter Ed Copleston.

The 23-year-old Cran-leigh cricketer - who has been sponsored by Countrywide Special Events of Brook - hopes to break the three-hour barrier. Copleston has certainly taken the task seriously with a spell of altitude training in Kenya part of his build-up.